Female employment to population ratio in India
India: Female employment to population ratio was 32.52 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
32.52
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
151st
of 172 countries
All-time high
35.64
in 2005
All-time low
19.14
in 2018
Years of data
13
1994–2025
Female employment to population ratio in India, 1994–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
India recorded 32.52 for female employment to population ratio in 2025.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment to population ratio in India peaked at 35.64 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 19.14, in 2018.
India ranks 151st of 172 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Female employment to population ratio in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 30.27 | — |
| 2000 | 29.96 | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 35.64 | +19.0% |
| 2010 | 27.8 | -22.0% |
| 2012 | 26.23 | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 19.14 | -27.0% |
| 2019 | 22.58 | +17.9% |
| 2020 | 24.4 | +8.1% |
| 2021 | 25.58 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 26.96 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | 33.66 | +24.8% |
| 2024 | 32.98 | -2.0% |
| 2025 | 32.52 | -1.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 32.52 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.07, 72% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- India's 32.52 is below the median for South Asia, which is 34.8, 93% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.27 | 30.27 | 30.27 | 1 |
| 2000s | 32.8 | 29.96 | 35.64 | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.94 | 19.14 | 27.8 | 4 |
| 2020s | 29.35 | 24.4 | 33.66 | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 148 Puerto Rico 33.27 compare
- 149 Marshall Islands 33.06 compare
- 150 South Africa 32.62 compare
- 152 Tuvalu 32.31 compare
- 153 Saudi Arabia 32.22 compare
- 154 Guyana 32.19 compare
More work & labour data for India
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5078 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 876,613 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 782,365 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 743,542 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 761,710 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1.51 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female employment to population ratio in India?
- Female employment to population ratio in India was 32.52 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment to population ratio recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 35.64 in 2005.
- What is the lowest female employment to population ratio recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.14 in 2018.
- How does India rank for female employment to population ratio?
- India ranks 151st out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment to population ratio rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment to population ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).